System for controlling lighting circuits



Aug. 3, 1948. E. F. ZIEGLER 2,446,450

SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING LIGHTING CIRCUITS Filed Nov. 30, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fi.2 Fi .3 Fi .4 F.

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PIA/I40 TTW ATTO RN EYS Patented Aug. 3, 1948 SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING LIGHTING CIRCUITS Edward F. Ziegler, Reading, Mass. Application November 30, 1946, Serial No. 713,246

Claims.

This invention relates to electric illumination systems controlled by light sensitive devices, such as a photo-electric tube or cell, the period of operation of such light sensitive device being automatically determined by timing mechanism.

It has been customary in outdoor street lighting to use a main electric circuit comprising street lights, a source of power such as a central generating station and a switch. It has also been customary to use in association with the main circuit a secondary or control circuit including a relay which operates the switch in the main circuit; a switch in the control circuit actuated by a light sensitive device in accordance with variations in natural light intensity and a source of power for the control circuit such as'a shunt from the main circuit.

The light sensitive device is usually directed at the northern sky and is so adjusted that, as natural light intensity falls below a preselected level, the light sensitive device moves its control circuit switch to the on position, thereby en.- ergizing the control circuit relay whereupon the latter switches on the main lighting circuit. In the early morning, as natural light intensity rises to the preselected level the light sensitive device moves its control circuit switch to the off position, de-energizing the control circuit relay and thereby switching oiT the street lights.

Light sensitive devices used in' such systems may consist of a photo-electric tube, powered by the main circuit or powered from the control circuit. They are usually, however, a well known typeof photo-electric cell wherein the light sensitive substance itself produces varying electric current in accordance with the intensity of light to which it is exposed.

It has been found in practice that electric illumination systems, as described above, are subject to errors in operation. A light sensitive device, located outdoors may be obscured during the daytime by an article carelessly thrown over it. This will cause the street lighting circuit to be energized and create a hazard for men working on the electric lines and will waste electric power. During the hours of darkness, a bright Searchlight beam or auto headlight, a flash of lightning in the distance or a fire in the immediate vicinity may cause the light sensitive device to switch ofi the street lighting over a large area and thereby create an even more dangerous condition.

One of the objects of my invention is to overcome these errors inoperation and to provide a more positive and accurate lighting control switch controlling system. In its simplest form my device assures that street lights will not be illuminated or extinguished at obviously wrong times. It further assures that street lights will be illuminated after a preselected time in the afternoon, will remain illuminated for a certain number of hours will be extinguished after a preselected time in the morning and remain extinguished for the remaining portion of the twenty-four hours.

I use the customary main circuit and add to the customary control circuit, specified above, what I call a time switch which permits the light sensitive device to function only twice each day, once to switch on lights and once to switch off lights. My new control circuit consists of a relay with opposed coils for switching on or oil? the switch of the main circuit, a first switch actuated by the light sensitive device which I call the light switch, a second switch actuated by timing mechanism, called the time switch, and a, source of electromotive power.

My time switch is a contact arm pivoted so that it can be moved to the on or "01f" position by timing mechanism. My light switch'is' also a contact arm' pivoted so that it can be moved to the on or oil position by the light sensitive device. The control circuit moves the the main circuit to the on" position, only when both the time switch and the light switch are in the on position. Similarly, the control circuit moves the switch controlling the main circuit to the 01f position, only when both the light switch and the time switch are in the ofi position. I

In one form of my device I provide a timing shaft revolubly connected to clock work mechanism and carrying two concentric disc shaped cams; of the well known plate type, one of which I call the dusk cam and the other of which I call the dawn cam. The contact arm of my time switch bears against the circumferential edge of both cams whereby it assumes the on position when the raised portion of the cam edge is in contact and assumes the off position When the unraised position is in contact.

I set my timing shaft to complete a revolution every twenty-four hours and afiix the dusk cam thereto so that its raised circumferential edge will strike the time switch at a daily time such as four-thirty P. M. I may use a circumferential length of raised portion on the dusk" cam su'lficient to hold the time switch in the onposition for eight hours. I may afiix my dawn cam to the time shaft so that its raised portion willbe flush with and a prolongation of that'of the 3 dusk cam. The combined circumferential length of raised portion of the two cams can thus be adjusted whereby the trailing edge of the dawn cams raised portion will allow the time switch to move to the off position at some desired time such as five-thirty in the morning,

In operation, my timing cams revolve n the time shaft and, at the appropriate time, the dusk cam actuates the time switch to the on position. After the time switch assumes the on position, the subsequent response of the lightsensitive device, at a time it selects as appropriate,

completes the control circuit, ener'giz'esthe coil of the control circuit relay and street lights are switched on by the switch con-trolling the main circuit. The street lights will remain on throughout the night, despite any responses of the-lightsensitive device, because the time switch is held in the on position by the raised portion of my two cams as they revolve. The switch of the main circuit can be moved to the ofi position only by energization of the opposite coil of the control circuit relay which cannot take place until the time switch moves to the o position.

In its simplest form, therefore, my device, overcomes the operational errors caused by mistakes of the light sensitive device in reacting to abnormal or unusual light intensities. However, thetiming mechanism describedabove requires occasional manual adjustment to adapt it to the changing seasons of the year and therefore is not fully automatic.

The preferred form of my device is however completely self-sufficient and needs no manual adjustment to operate accurately every day of the year. To explain its operation it is pointed out that in addition to the occasional untimely responses of the light sensitive device, mentioned above, there are certain variables in natural conditions which affect the proper time for switching on or off of street lights. In order to be fully automatic each day, ajlighting system must take such variables into consideration and be capable of adjusting itself to them.

One of the variables is the progressive daily variation caused by the space relationship of the earth and the sun whereby sunset and sunrise may occur a few minutes earlier each day during certain seasons and a few minutes later each day in the remaining seasons of the year. Another variable is the presence or absence of dark storm clouds, caused by the weather, which may cause natural light intensity to be higher or lower than normal. In a particular geographical location, I can determine the time interval necessary to provide for these two variables and for convenience in describing my invention, it will be assumed that thirty minutes is sufficient and is decided upon.

In. this preferred form of my invention, I use the main circuit and control circuit as described above, including a switch actuated 'by a light sensitive device and a switch actuated by timing cams. Instead of a timing shaft which revolvesonce every twenty-four hours, however, I use a shaft capable of being adjusted to complete onerevolution in a time less than twentyfour hours.

To allow for the variables previously -mentioned, for which it was assumed that thirty min-- utes would be suihcient time allowance,.I adjustmy time shaft to complete a revolution in twent three and one-half hours. This leaves a thirty minute period remaining from a twenty-four hour day and is what I call the leeway. It is provided to make the light sensitive'device ready pressed member of gized, it pulls the cam edge.

to operate each day approximately thirty minutes before it would normally be called upon to operate.

A dusk cam and a dawn cam are carried by the timing shaft, the circumferential edge of both cams bearing against the contact arm of a time switch and moving it to the on position when the raised portion of the cam is in contact and permitting it to move to the off position when in contact with unraised portions of the These cams however are not permanently fired to the time shaft but are connected thereto only by a spring pressed member attached to the cam but in frictional contact with the shaft,

I provide a magnet proximate to the spring each cam which I call a mag- When this magnet is enerspring pressed member out of frictional contact with the timing shaft and holds the cam stationary while the shaft continues to revolve. My control circuit is so arranged that as soon as the dusk cam moves the time switch to the on position and as soon as the dawn cam permits the time switch to resume the off position, each cam is halted in place by its magnetic cam stop. Neither cam can again resume revolving with the time shaft until the light sensitive device makes a response, thereby de-energizing the magnetic cam stop.

An additional feature of the preferred form of my invention is the provision of switching means in the control circuit, which I call the operating relay. The operating relay comprises an armature pivoted at the centre and actuated by two magnetic coils each energized by separate subordinate circuits of the control circuit. The armature of the operating relay is of a well known toggle joint type, whereby, when moved to one position by the energization of a coil, it remains in that position after the coil is deenergized. It does not again move to its other position until the opposite coil is energized.

To illustrate how my timing mechanism operates, a normal day will be taken as an example. It will lso be assumed that in the particular geographical location thirty minutes is a sufficient leeway to cover. variations from the normal in weather and to cover the daily progressive change in the time of sunset and sunrise.

If darkness will normally commence on this normal day at five oclock in the afternoon, the dusk cam of my device will move the tim switch to the on position thirty minutes earlier than five o'clock or at four-thirty oclock. The control circuit is then ready for complete closing at whatever time after four-thirty oclock, the light sensitive device determines is appropriate.

Since this is a normal day, the intensity of natural light will fall to the preselected level at five oclock, which causes the light sensitive device to move its switch in the control circuit to the on position. This completes the control circuit, energizes the control circuit relay, moves the main circuit switch to the on position and the street lights are illuminated.

According to my device, however, although when the dusk cam moved the time switch to the on position, it was connected to the timing shaft, immediately thereafter a subordinate circuit was completed which energized the magnetic cam stop and caused the dusk cam to become stationary. The timing shaft continued to revolve as did the dawn cam which therefore began to reduce the circumferential distance between the netic cam stop.

lowered light intensity at forward edge of the raised portion of the dusk cam and the trailing edge of the raised portion of the dawn cam.

- The dusk cam remained stationary for thirty minutes on this normal day from four-thirty oclock. to five oclock waiting for the light sensitive device to respond. As soon as that response occurred,,at five oclock, the magnetic stop was de-energized and the spring pressed member of the dusk cam caused it to again commence revolving with the timing shaft. It will be seen that twenty-three and one-half hours after five oclock the dusk cam will again be in position to move. the time switch to the on position at four thirty oclock the following day.

If the day had not been normal and it had been dark and cloudy at four-thirty oclock, the light sensitive device might have responded to the four-forty-five oclock ratherthan five oclock. Had this been the case, the dusk cam would have recommenced revolving with the timing shaft at four-forty-five oclock and on the next day would have been in position to; move the time switch to the on position fifteen minutes earlier than the day before or at four-fifteen oclock.

On the other hand, if the day had been unusually bright, the light sensitive device might not have responded until later than the normal time, as at five-fifteen oclock or such later time as it deemed appropriate. Thus my dusk cam would not have recommenced revolving with the time shaft until five-fifteen oclock and on the nextday would have moved the time switch to the-on position fifteen minutes later than the daybefore or at four-forty-fiv oclock,

In any case, according to my device it is the time of response of the light sensitive device each day which resets my timing cams ready for operation, at a stated interval such as twenty-three and one-half hours afterward on the following day. The dawn cam operates in the same manner as the dusk cam, being held stationary by its magnetic stop until the light sensitive device makes a response whereupon the dawn cam again resumes revolving with the timing shaft.

Since the operating relay of my device cannot be moved from the on position, until after the time switch initiates a move to the off position in the morning, the street lights cannot be extinguished during darkness. The time switch cannot initiat such a movement to the "01? position during the hours of darkness because it is held in the on position by the raised portions of the dusk and dawn cams.

In a similar manner, so long as the time switch bears against the unraised portion of my timing cams, there is no possibility of the street lights beingilluminated, during the hours of daylight.

In the lower latitudes, between about 30 N. and 30 8., I prefer to use cams whose circumferential raised portion amounts to about 120 or approximately eight hours in time, the total combined length of raised portion of both dusk and dawn cam ranging from a maximum of sixteen hours to a minimum of eight hours.

However, in higher latitudes I may use cams whose'raised portion covers 180 or more of the circumference depending on the maximum time range required by th geographical location. In this case I use two separate snap action contact arms in my time switch'to act as cam followers for each cam and modify my electrical connections as shown in Fig. 9. The increased amount of overlap, of the raised portion of my dusk and'dawn cams, necessitated by the higher latitudes, makes the use of a single contact arm impractical. in theselatitudes. It is obvious that I can use two contact arms in place of the single contact arm shown in the preferred construction of my time switch, and that the timeswitch would thus be usable inalllatitudes. 1

Ifit is determined, that in a particular geographical location, aperiod of two hours is necessary to account for variations from the normal in the time of twilight and dawn, I may adjust'my time shaft to complete a revolution in twenty-two hours, by'substituting an appropriate ratio of gearing. between my time shaft and my clock mechanism.

I prefer to use anindependently poweredclock mechanism such as aspring clock woundby periodic electric impulses to avoid errors in timing dueto stoppage of power. Thus, if the source of power in the control circuit fails temporarily, my timing mechanism will continue to function and, upon resumption of the power, will rapidly restore the proper cycle of timing automatically.

I also prefer to use a photo-electric cell of a well known type, which, upon malfunction, automatically moves its switch in the control circuit to the on position. Thus, the control circuit will be closed as soon moves its switch to the on position and the street lights will be-illuminated. In such cases, the street lights will continue burning until the troublein the photo-electric cell has been corrected. a

My invention accommodates a wide range in the time of commencement of darkness on succeeding days. If fora certain locality, the maximum daily. variation is determined to be thirty minutes, then thedevice insures that lights can be switched on up to thirty minutes earlier than the actual switching on time of the preceding day. No limit isplaced on how much later, each day, the lights may be switched on. In any case, the actual. time of switching lights on is always determined by the photo-electric Similarly, there is a wide range in the time of ending of darkness on succeeding days, the actual time of switching lights off being always determined by the photo-electric cell.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of my device,

Figure 21s a sectional View on line 2-2 of Figure 11, showing the timing cams and time switch of a preferred form of my device.

'Figures 3 to 8 are sectional views, similar to Figure 2, showing the position of the cams and time switch at various hours of the day.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the use of two snap action contact arms inthe time switch when the device is used in higher latitudes.

Figure 10 is a sectional view on line lfil-|0 of Figure 11', showing the timing cams and the magnetic cam stops of a preferred form of my device, and 1 Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view of a preferred form of my device.

As illustrated in Figure 1, I use the customary main electrical circuit 1, including a source of not shown, which may be a central electric generating station. Electric lighting units 5, 5 are included in circuit l, and I provide a switch A with an armature'3 for switching on or-oif the main circuit. When .armaturet is closed, that is'in the on position,

a circuit is made through wire 6, electric units 5, wire 4, armature 3 and wire 2, thus illuminating the streets or other outdoor area in which the system is installed.

I also provide a control circuit H, with an independent source of electromotive power such as electric batteries, although the control circuit may be powered by a shunt from the main circuit in a well known manner. Included in the control circuit H is a relay coil |4 for moving armature 3 of main circuit to the on position and a relay coil 22 for moving it to the off position. Switch A is of the toggle joint type and remains in its last position until the opposite coil is energized.

L is a light sensitive device, such as a photoelectric cell, directed at the northern sky so that as natural light intensity rises to a preselected level it actuates contact arm 3| of a switch B in the control circuit. I call switch B the light switch in the control circuit. Contact arm 3| is provided with a spring 32 to hold it in the on position except when the brightness of daylight influences cell L to move it to the ofi position.

C is what I call the time switch in the control circuit with a contact arm 33 movable to the "on or off position by means of disc like timing cams 40 and 4|. Contact arm 33 is provided with a spring 34 which maintains it in contact with the timing cams. A roller 35 carried by arms 36 and 31 of contact arm 33 permits the cams 40 and 4| to revolve without undue friction from contact arm 33.

Timing cam 46 is what I call the dusk cam and timing cam 4| is what I call the dawn cam. Each is of disc shape, with a portion of the circumference at 42 and 43 of such increased radius that the circumferential edge will move 33 to the on position, while the portion of smaller radius permits spring 34 to move 33 to the off position. Each cam 40 and 4| is carried by a tubular shank 44 and 45 bearing set screws 46 and 41 for affixing the cams to timing shaft 48.

Timing shaft 48 carries a pulley 49 connected by a belt 50 to the power pulley of timing mechanism T, in such manner that shaft 48 completes one revolution every 24 hours.

In the operation of my device, I may afifix my dusk cam 40 to shaft 48 by means of set screw 46, so that the raised portion 42 will strike roller 35 of contact arm 33 at a time such as fourthirty in the afternoon. Contact arm 33 is thus moved to the on position and the control circult is ready for the light sensitive device L to operate. At an appropriate time after fourthirty when natural light intensity falls below a level preselected thereon the cell L permits contact arm 3| of switch B to be moved to the on position by spring 32.

A circuit is thus completed through wire I6, contact arm 33, wire |5, relay coil [4, wire l3, contact arm 3| and wire |2. The energization of relay coil |4, causes it to move armature 3 of switch A to the on position, thus closing the main circuit, energizing lights 5, 5 and illuminating the streets. Switch A will remain in the on position, until such time as the time switch C initiates a move to energize relay coil 22 by moving to the off position.

I aflix the dawn cam 4| to shaft 48 by tightening set screw 41, whereby the raised circumferential edge 43 will be in prolongation of raised circumferential edge 42 of cam 40. I can adjust the combined raised portion of the two cams so that the trailing edge of 43 will permit contact arm 33 to assume the "01f" position at a time such as five-thirty in the morning. Upon this occurrence the control circuit becomes ready for the light sensitive device L to again operate.

At an appropriate time after five-thirty the natural light intensity will rise to the preselected level representing daylight and contact arm 3| of switch B will be moved to the off position by the light sensitive device L against the pull of spring 32.

A circuit is thus completed through wire l5, contact arm 33, wire 23, relay coil 22, wire 2|, contact arm 3| and wire |2. The energization of relay coil 22 causes it to move armature 3 of switch A to the off position, opening the main circuit 1 and extinguishing all street lights.

It will be seen that with my device, the street lights 5 can never be illuminated unless the light switch 3 and time switch 0 are in the on" position. Once illuminated, street lights 5 cannot'be extinguished until time switch C moves to the "off position. And once extinguished street lights 5 cannot be illuminated until time switch C moves, to the on position. Yet the actual time at which lights 5 are turned on or off is determined by the light sensitive device.

By affixing my cams 40 and 4| in the proper positions on shaft 48, I can establish an appropriate time range for a particular locality which will be correct for a month, for a season or for the entire year. However, the period between the moment the time switch actuates and the moment the light switch actuates, must be of greater length, the greater the number of days the device is to operate without additional manual adjustment.

The cams shown in all of the figures, with the exception of Figure 9, are suitable for latitudes between approximately 30 N. and 30 S. As shown in Figure 9, however, in higher latitudes I may use cams whose raised portion is more than of the circumference, such as dusk cam 24d and dawn cam 2 H having raised portions 242 and 243 respectively. C ams 240 and 24! have tubular shanks 244 and 245 which may be attached to shaft 48 by set screws 24!; and 241 or by magnetic cam stops such as are shown in Figures 10 and 11 in the preferred form of my invention.

To facilitate the use of cams 240 and 24|, with the increased length in the raised portion of their edges, I provide two contact arms 233 and 333 in my time switch to act as spring pressed cam followers. Each contact arm 233 and 333 has a return spring 234 and 334 and carries a roller 235 and 335 in contact with the edges of cams 24B and 24L When rollers 235 and 335 are in contact with the unraised edge of cam 24c and 24| the circuit between wires l6 and wires l5 and 23 is broken. As raised portion 242 of cam 240 bears against roller 235, contact arm 233 completes a circuit between wires l6 and l5 and, similarly, raised portion 243 causes contact arm 333 to complete a circuit of wires l6 and 23'.

The operation of the device shown in Figure 9 is the same as that shown in Figure 1, but permits a period of darkness or a period of light of considerably greater extent. If raised portion 242 is or 12 hours in length it will close contact arm 233 for 12 hours, for example between 4. P..M. and 4 A. M. The cell L will complete the closing of the control circuit at the appropriate time, thus illuminating the streets and the main circuit will remain closed during the 12 hours.

' The raised portion 2413 of cam 24H, being also 180 in length or 12 hours will close contact arm 333 at about 4 A. M. and hold it closed until 12! hours later at 4 P. M. During this time cell L will again close the control circuit to extinguish the street lightsand will keep the control circuit closed during the 12 hours.

It is apparent that two contact arms may also be used in the time switch shown in Figures lii. of the single contact arm where the preferred form of my device is to be used in higher latitudes.

In a preferred form of my device, Figures 28 and Figures 10 and 11, I provide means to automatically adjust the timing to ac cord with the constantly changing time of darkness and daylight throughout the days of the year. The device and capable of readjusting itself to the correct time cycle after a failure of power in the control circuit. Itmay be used for electric outdoor illumination including street lighting, airway beacons, lighted buoys, lighthouses and similar installations with no manual adjustment necessary at any time.

In this preferred application of my invention, as shown in Fig. 11, I use the customary-main circuit I, comprising wire 2, armature 3 of switch A, wire 4, lighting units 5, 5, and wire 6, as described abov A spring I is provided to pull armature 3 to the off position when relay coil ii-i armature 3 to the on position, thereby closing the main circuit l and illuminating lighting units A light sensitive device, preferably a photoelectric cell'L is provided with a switch B having a contact arm 3i, which I call the light switch. Spring 32 holds contact arm 3! in the on position except when the level of natural light intensity rises sufficiently to cause L to actuate 3i to the off position.

A switch C, having a contact arm 33 which I shall call the time switch is also provided, there being a spring 3 3 for maintaining contact arm 33 in contact with my timing cams.

Clock mechanism Tis preferably of the spring type, wound by periodic electric impulses received from control circuit GI, and is connected in any convenient way, such as by gears '65, to timing shaft I Ill. As shown timing shaft IOI revolves in bearings 66 and Eland carries a d-usk cam I66 with its tubular shank Hi8 and a dawn cam 163 with its tubular shank I87.

As'shown more clearly in Figure 10, each cam H33 and. H34 has a slot Iiiiland H in its shank IE3? and I08 and each cam carries an L-shaped lever II I, and H2 pivotedat H3 and II t to cams 103 and I04. Springs H5 and H6 hold members II I and I I2 in frictional contact with shaft I Ell thereby causing the cams I03 and I04 to revolve with shaft IOI.

I provide what I call a magnetic cam stop,.however, which comprises magnetic ooilstii and I8. The e'nergization of coils 95 and I8 pulls members III and II 2 out of frictional contact with shaft EDI and causes cams volving until the magnetic coils are deenergized.

R is whatI call. the operating relay com prising a pivoted armature I It], bearing contact arms 82 .and 5? and movable to two positions by relay coils l4 and 92. Relay R is of the well shown in l is therefore fully automatic 10 known toggle joint typewherein armature H9 remains in a particular position until the opposite coil is energized and in which there are auxiliary contacts which open each coil circuit immediately after operation.

revolved by clock mechanism T and carrying with it dusk cam I64 and dawn cam I 03.

As shown in Figure 3, at about four oclockin the afternoon of a typical day, the leading :edge of the raised portion I06 of dusk cam EM has just reached the roller 35 of contact arm 33.

As shown in Figure 4, at four-thirty in the afternoon, the raised portion I66 of dusk cam I04 has moved contact arm'iii-l from the off to the on position. Simultaneously a circuit is comthus halting and cam I03 continue revolving.

My control circuit is now what I call able respond to the arrival of darknessat about five oclock in the afternoon by permitting contact arm 3! of switch 13 to move to the on position.

switch A thereby closing main circuit I and. illuminating street lights 5.

The movement'of contract arm 82, simultane ously broke the circuit which energized magnetic permitted cam IM to recommence revolving lwith time shaft IOI. Cam I M was thus halted for about thirty minutes waiting for cell Lto make a response. Having commenced revolving again I05 and I06 of timing cams I03 and I04. Thus there is no possibility of the electric lighting units being extinguished during the hours of darkness, in spite of any action of cell L.

While cam I04 was halted during the leeway period, ca'm I03 was revolved by the time shaft IM and therefore the total circumferential length of raised portions I05 and I06 was shortened. After the halt and during the night both cams continue revolving and continue holding contact arm 33 in the on position as shown in Figure 5 which is illustrative of midnight positions.

As shown in Figure 6, the raised portions I05 and I of cams I03 and I04 have revolved sufficiently at about six oclock in the morning to enable the trailing edge of I to pass roller 35 of contact arm 33. Contact arm 33 of switch C, therefore, is moved to the off position by spring 34. Simultaneously a circuit is made from wire 81, wire 10, contact arm 33, Wire 90, 'wire 34, magnetic coil 95, wire 96, contact arm 91, wire 98 and wire 80. This circuit energizes magnetic coil 95 which therefore attracts lever II I of dawn cam I03, and causes cam I03 to cease revolving with time shaft I0 I.

Cam I04, however, continues to revolve with time shaft I01 thus gradually lengthening the total circumferential length of raised portions I05 and I00.

Since the day is assumed to be typical, cam I03 will be held in position about thirty minutes during which time my control circuit is again what I call vulnerable. The time switch is ready and is waiting for the light switch to respond. At the end of the leeway period of thirty minutes, at about six-thirty oclock in the morning, photoelectric cell L will respond to the arrival of daylight by moving contact arm 3I of switch B to the cfi position. It is pointed out however, that if the day is abnormal, such as if dark clouds are present the light switch may not respond until six-forty oclock or such later time as it deems appropriate.

In any case the moving of contact arm 3i to the off position closes a circuit from wire 80, wire 16, contact arm 3I, wire 93, relay coil 92, wire 9|, wire 90, contact arm 33, wire 10 and wire 81. The energization of relay coil 92 moves armature H9 to the position shown in Figure 11, thus causing contact arm 82 to break the energized relay'coil 84 and thus extinguishing the electric lights 5.

The movements 0 contact arm 91 simultaneously breaks the circuit which energized magnetic coil 95, whereupon magnetic coil 95 releases lever III and permits cam I03 to recommence revolving with time shaft IOI. Thus cam I03 will be in position twenty-three and one-half hours later to again permit contact arm 33 to move to the oil position. vBoth cams I03 and I04 are shown as revolving together on shaft I0 I, at about six-forty-five oclock in the morning in Figure '7.

In Figure 8, I show both my dusk cam I04 and my dawn cam I03 as having revolved sufficiently at eleven-thirty oclock in the morning to be ready to again perform the cycle just described. It should be noted that so long as contact arm 33 is in contact with the unraised portion of cams I03 and I04, any incorrect response of cell L to unusual light intensities will not affect the main circuit or cause it to be energized during the daytime.

I claim:

l. A circuit control apparatus including a light sensitive device, a first switch in said circuit actucircuit which ated by the light sensitive device according to variations in natural light intensity, a second switch in said circuit, timing mechanism for actuating said second switch including means for automatically establishing the time of day after which responses of the light sensitive device control the circuit.

2. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, an electric lighting circuit, a light sensitive device controlling said circuit, timing mechanism controlling the time of operation of said light sensitive device and mechanism for advancing or retarding said time of operation in accordance with seasonal variations in duration of natural daylight and darkness.

3. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, an electric lighting circuit, a light sensitive device for controlling said circuit, timing mechanism for establishing a time after which said light sensitive device can control the circuit and mechanism for advancing or retarding said control time in accordance with daily variations in the actual time said light sensitive device responds at predetermined levels of natural light intensity.

4. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and an electric unit in circuit therewith; a control circuit including a relay for controlling the main circuit; and means for actuating said control circuit relay by a light sensitive device influenced by variations in natural light intensity only after times determined by a time clock.

5. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and an electric unit in circuit therewith; a control circuit including a relay for controlling the main circuit; means for actuating said control circuit relay by a light sensitive device influenced by variations in natural light intensity after times determined by a time clock and means for preventing actuation of said control circuit relay b said light sensitive device at all other times.

6. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and an electric unit in circuit therewith; a control circuit including a relay for controlling the main circuit; means for actuating said control circuit relay by a light sensitive device influenced by variations in natural light intensity during a time period which commences at a preselected interval after a previous actuation and ends with the occurrence of such actuation.

'7. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and an electric unit in circuit therewith, a control circuit including an independent source of electromotive power and a relay for controlling the main circuit; and means for actuating said control circuit relay by a light sensitive device influenced by variations in natural lght intensity only after times determined by a time clock.

8. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and a lighting unit in circuit therewith; a control circuit including a relay which controls the main circuit; a light sensitive device; a first switch in the control circuit actuated by the light sensitive device in accordance with variations in natural light '35 intensity; a second switch in the control circuit;

13 and timing mechanism for actuating said second switch including means whereby the control circuit relay may be actuated by the light sensitive device only after times determined by the timing mechanism.

9. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and a lighting unit in circuit therewith; a control circuit including a relay which controls the main circuit; a light senstive device; a first switch in the control circuit actuated by the light sensitive device in accordance with variations in natural light intensity; a second switch in the control circuit; and timing mechanism for actuating said second switch including means whereby the control circut relay may be actuated by the light sensitive device only after times determined by the timing mechanism and also means operable by the light sensitive device for resetting the timing mechanism for its next operation at a predetermined time interval after an actuation of the first switch by the light sensitive device.

10. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and a lighting unit in circuit therewth; a control circuit including a relay for controlling the main circuit; a light sensitive device; a first switch in the control circuit actuated by the light sensitive device in accordance with variations in natural light intensity; a second switch in the control circuit; timing mechanism for actuating said second switch at a pre-selected interval after the actuation of the first switch.

11. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and a lighting unit in circuit therewith; a control circuit including a relay for controlling the main circuit; a light sensitive device; a first switch in the control circuit actuated by the light sensitive device in accordance with variations in natural light intensity; at second switch in the control circuit; and timing mechanism for actuating the second switch at times determined by the time of commencement of daylight and darkness on the previous day.

12. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and a lighting unit in circuit therewith; a control circuit including a relay for controlling the main circuit; a light sensitive device; a first switch in the control circuit actuated by the light sensitive device in accordance with variations in natural light intensity; a second switch in the control circuit; and timing mechanism for actuating the second switch at a preselected interval after an actuation of the first switch and means for adjusting the length of said interval to accord with the geographical location of the system.

13. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electrom-otive power and a lighting unit in circuit therewith; a control circuit including a relay for controlling the main circuit; a light senstive device; a first switch in the control circuit actuated by the light sensitive device in accordance with variations in natural light intensity; a second switch in the control circuit; and timing mechanism which actuates the second switch at a predetermined period of time before daylight and darkness each day; the time of commencement of said period being at a predetermined interval after the time of occurrence of daylight and darkness on the previous day; and means operable by said light sensitive device for resetting the timing mechanism for its next cycle of operation.

14. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination, a main circuit including a source of electromotive power, fighting units and a switch; a control circuit including a relay for moving the main circuit switch to the oif" and "on position; a light sensitive device, a first switch in the control circuit spring pressed to the on" position but movable to the ofi" position by the light sensitive device when influenced by the intensity of natural light thereon; a second switch in the control circuit and timing mechanism for moving said second switch to the ofi and on position at times of day determined by the time of occurrence of daylight and darkness on the previous day.

15. In a system for the daily control of electrical outdoor illumination; a main circuit including a source of electromotive power and a lighting unit in circuit therewith; a control circuit including a relay which controls the main circuit; a light sensitive device, a first switch in the control circuit actuated by the light sensitive device in accordance with variations in natural light intensity; a second switch in said control circuit and independently powered timing mechanism for actuating said second switch at times determined by the time of occurrence of daylight and darkness on the previous day.

EDWARD F. ZIEGLER. 

